My book is out… My book is out... YAY YAY My book is out! The time has finally come and Clandestine is finally out! I can hardly wait to see what everyone thinks of it. It really is a great book and the start of an amazing series.
I have wanted to write for seriously as long as I can remember. My lovely Gram still has a million poems that I wrote back in the nineties. I admit that I never thought in a million years that I would one day have a book that someone could purchase, hold in their hands and hopefully fall in love with.
Guess what??? That day is finally here!!!
My book can be purchased at Create Space Amazon Barnes & Noble
It is available as a paperback or eBook for your Kindle or Nook.
For a synopsis check out Clandestine
The amazing cover art was done by Joy at Dreamscape Covers If you check her out be sure to tell her that Nicole sent you and tell her I said hi.
Connect with me on: Good Reads Be sure to sign up for my book give away and join my Q&A group while you are there.
We can also chat on: Facebook
Friday, August 24, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
If I Knew Then What I Know Now
It’s less than two weeks from the release of my first book Clandestine
I’m so excited, nervous, scared and happy, all rolled into one overcrowded package. There are so many emotions running through my head that I am not completely sure what to do with them all. This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and it’s finally becoming a reality.
When I first became blind I never would have imagined I would have been an author. It’s not that blind people can’t write, because obviously they can. It’s just that I was in such a different place back then mentally, that I thought anything I desired was unattainable. I was so bitter, angry and negative that I truly thought I’d never accomplish anything bigger than making a sandwich.
Looking back on that version of me, I think… wow, what the hell was I thinking? When something in life happens to you that alters life as you thought you know it, the road can seem treacherous. I was such a Debbie Downer back then and I wish my present day self could have had a heart to heart with the me of the past.
I would have said” Guess what, your life isn’t that bad. You still have your health and people who love you. You still have all of your other senses. Yes this is hard. It’s probably the hardest thing you’ll ever go through, but it’s not the end of the world!”
Then because the me of the past wasn’t an agreeable person, she would have said, “Bite me.”
I still have my bad days when it come to my vision, or lack there of. The difference is that now I have learned to cope and accept the things about myself that I can’t change. Being blind has taught me so many things that I wouldn’t have otherwise learned and I’m eternally grateful for that.
If I had it to do over again, would I choose to have never gone blind? Honestly, I have no idea. The bigger part of me is screaming DUH!! OF COURSE YOU WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO BE BLIND!! The smaller part knows that if I hadn’t gone blind then several things that I’ve accomplished might not have happened.
For instance, I would have never started my blog Playing The Blind Card I may have also given up on the path of writing for a different career. Would I have been as happy as I am now? I don’t know.
I have been written about in the newspaper twice. I’ve gotten the opportunity to have a guide dog and meet several amazing people at the school where I met her.
I get the opportunity to appreciate the sound of my children’s laughter way more. Granted, the flip side of that is that I also get the ear splitting pleasure of listening to them fight and argue with me, but still.
I’ve always loved the expression “Go big, or go home”. It’s finally happening to me where I get to officially say “I’m going big!” Clandestine will be the first of many books to come. It is the first book in the Bound In Blood series. It’s a great Young Adult Paranormal read. I love it because it has the suspense of vampires that people love, but also has a humoring banter that will hopefully keep you laughing. It’s dark, but has a deeper message and it truly is a coming of age, rite of passage kind of story. People of all ages will love it and I hope you will all give it a go.
In the beginning, it will only be available online but hopefully soon you will find it in book store shelves everywhere. If you have a book store near you, request it. The more people that do will help get it on the shelves.
Once I have the exact book page links from the websites where it will be sold, I will post them here. So be sure to keep checking back!
I’m so excited, nervous, scared and happy, all rolled into one overcrowded package. There are so many emotions running through my head that I am not completely sure what to do with them all. This has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember and it’s finally becoming a reality.
When I first became blind I never would have imagined I would have been an author. It’s not that blind people can’t write, because obviously they can. It’s just that I was in such a different place back then mentally, that I thought anything I desired was unattainable. I was so bitter, angry and negative that I truly thought I’d never accomplish anything bigger than making a sandwich.
Looking back on that version of me, I think… wow, what the hell was I thinking? When something in life happens to you that alters life as you thought you know it, the road can seem treacherous. I was such a Debbie Downer back then and I wish my present day self could have had a heart to heart with the me of the past.
I would have said” Guess what, your life isn’t that bad. You still have your health and people who love you. You still have all of your other senses. Yes this is hard. It’s probably the hardest thing you’ll ever go through, but it’s not the end of the world!”
Then because the me of the past wasn’t an agreeable person, she would have said, “Bite me.”
I still have my bad days when it come to my vision, or lack there of. The difference is that now I have learned to cope and accept the things about myself that I can’t change. Being blind has taught me so many things that I wouldn’t have otherwise learned and I’m eternally grateful for that.
If I had it to do over again, would I choose to have never gone blind? Honestly, I have no idea. The bigger part of me is screaming DUH!! OF COURSE YOU WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO BE BLIND!! The smaller part knows that if I hadn’t gone blind then several things that I’ve accomplished might not have happened.
For instance, I would have never started my blog Playing The Blind Card I may have also given up on the path of writing for a different career. Would I have been as happy as I am now? I don’t know.
I have been written about in the newspaper twice. I’ve gotten the opportunity to have a guide dog and meet several amazing people at the school where I met her.
I get the opportunity to appreciate the sound of my children’s laughter way more. Granted, the flip side of that is that I also get the ear splitting pleasure of listening to them fight and argue with me, but still.
I’ve always loved the expression “Go big, or go home”. It’s finally happening to me where I get to officially say “I’m going big!” Clandestine will be the first of many books to come. It is the first book in the Bound In Blood series. It’s a great Young Adult Paranormal read. I love it because it has the suspense of vampires that people love, but also has a humoring banter that will hopefully keep you laughing. It’s dark, but has a deeper message and it truly is a coming of age, rite of passage kind of story. People of all ages will love it and I hope you will all give it a go.
In the beginning, it will only be available online but hopefully soon you will find it in book store shelves everywhere. If you have a book store near you, request it. The more people that do will help get it on the shelves.
Once I have the exact book page links from the websites where it will be sold, I will post them here. So be sure to keep checking back!
Monday, July 23, 2012
A Little About New Projects And A Little About Clandstine
I just got back from camping today and it’s been a very productive writing day. My kids have been absorbed in activities that they haven’t been able to do much in the last week or so which has allowed me to be very efficient with my latest project.
I am super excited about it because the main character of this one is a totally blind person. It isn’t as easy as you would think to write a character like that. Sure I can’t see so I can easily get into the person’s head to write them that’s true. But a reader (especially a sighted reader) wants description. A blind reader wants description too but for a different reason. I live by the saying that an audio book is a blind person’s television. This is because you don’t miss anything when you read like you do when you listen to your favorite show or movie.
Anyway as always I’m veering off track. In order to make a blind main character work affectively I have decided to make her someone who became blind rather than someone who was born that way. She has only been blind for a year so she is still in the stage where she is pretty much a Debbie Downer on the subject. It hasn’t dawned on her yet in the book that blindness isn’t the end of the world.
I went through a lot of mixed emotions when I lost my sight. I have also had gobs of people ask what that was like and how it felt. I thought it would be a good element to add to the story of such a multi faceted character.
The book is still in the beginning stages so I don’t want to give away much but I will tell you that I’m only at chapter 4 and I’m already falling in love with it. Don’t get me wrong I love Clandestine too but in an entirely different way. The Bound In Blood series is fun to write and I have put a lot into it. But with this project I’ve really delved into my soul and put a piece of my soul into it.
I hope you adore this story as much as I do. I am unsure yet if it will be a series but can definitely see the potential for one with the plot that is unraveling.
I promise to keep you up to date on that and also with the second book in the Bound In Blood series Divinity whenever possible. I know I have been neglecting my blogs lately and for that I’m sorry, I truly am. But its summer time so both kids are home full time, we’ve been camping a bunch and also been devoted to the new books I’m working on coupled with getting Clandestine out for your viewing pleasure.
There have been a lot of questions about whether or not Clandestine will be made into an audio book. When it is released it will only be available in print and EBook. BUT I promise that an audio version will be made available as soon as that is possible. Unfortunately, the production of an audio book is very expensive. I looked into hiring a narrator but the cheapest I have found is five hundred dollars and right now that is just not an option for me. That is definitely one down side to self publishing, accessible formats take a while if they come at all.
I have been looking into finding someone I know read it for me but that isn’t as easy as it looks either. I have to be sure the person has the right quality and tone to their voice to portray Emily as well as the rest of the slayer gang. It will be done I promise. I’m just not sure when.
I will write again soon and let you know how things are going. PS… I will be posting this same post on both my blogs so all of you will be equally informed.
I am super excited about it because the main character of this one is a totally blind person. It isn’t as easy as you would think to write a character like that. Sure I can’t see so I can easily get into the person’s head to write them that’s true. But a reader (especially a sighted reader) wants description. A blind reader wants description too but for a different reason. I live by the saying that an audio book is a blind person’s television. This is because you don’t miss anything when you read like you do when you listen to your favorite show or movie.
Anyway as always I’m veering off track. In order to make a blind main character work affectively I have decided to make her someone who became blind rather than someone who was born that way. She has only been blind for a year so she is still in the stage where she is pretty much a Debbie Downer on the subject. It hasn’t dawned on her yet in the book that blindness isn’t the end of the world.
I went through a lot of mixed emotions when I lost my sight. I have also had gobs of people ask what that was like and how it felt. I thought it would be a good element to add to the story of such a multi faceted character.
The book is still in the beginning stages so I don’t want to give away much but I will tell you that I’m only at chapter 4 and I’m already falling in love with it. Don’t get me wrong I love Clandestine too but in an entirely different way. The Bound In Blood series is fun to write and I have put a lot into it. But with this project I’ve really delved into my soul and put a piece of my soul into it.
I hope you adore this story as much as I do. I am unsure yet if it will be a series but can definitely see the potential for one with the plot that is unraveling.
I promise to keep you up to date on that and also with the second book in the Bound In Blood series Divinity whenever possible. I know I have been neglecting my blogs lately and for that I’m sorry, I truly am. But its summer time so both kids are home full time, we’ve been camping a bunch and also been devoted to the new books I’m working on coupled with getting Clandestine out for your viewing pleasure.
There have been a lot of questions about whether or not Clandestine will be made into an audio book. When it is released it will only be available in print and EBook. BUT I promise that an audio version will be made available as soon as that is possible. Unfortunately, the production of an audio book is very expensive. I looked into hiring a narrator but the cheapest I have found is five hundred dollars and right now that is just not an option for me. That is definitely one down side to self publishing, accessible formats take a while if they come at all.
I have been looking into finding someone I know read it for me but that isn’t as easy as it looks either. I have to be sure the person has the right quality and tone to their voice to portray Emily as well as the rest of the slayer gang. It will be done I promise. I’m just not sure when.
I will write again soon and let you know how things are going. PS… I will be posting this same post on both my blogs so all of you will be equally informed.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
YAY FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!
It’s only a few hours away from officially being the 4th of July. I must confess that this is probably my favorite holiday. I have always loved it and even now without my sight I feel like a kid again every time all the big booms start.
Of course the gorgeous illumination of the sparkling lights is lost on me but I can still imagine them in my mind. I can still feel the rumble of the really big ones and still jump every time they go off.
I enjoy listening to my girls get excited every time a new color pattern brightens up the sky after dark. Peanut of course loves all of them but especially gets a kick out of the green ones since that’s her favorite color. Princess is mainly after the bomb style hold on to your butt explosions. She especially loves that starting last year she got to light some off on her own. PS there was an adult with her the entire time. Mommy’s a little paranoid just sayin
Tomorrow we will be spending the day with family for a fun day of barbeque and fireworks. Even though the whole family won’t be in attendance I know the day will go off without a hitch.
I hope you all have a happy and say 4th. May all your pyrotechnic dreams come true… lol
Of course the gorgeous illumination of the sparkling lights is lost on me but I can still imagine them in my mind. I can still feel the rumble of the really big ones and still jump every time they go off.
I enjoy listening to my girls get excited every time a new color pattern brightens up the sky after dark. Peanut of course loves all of them but especially gets a kick out of the green ones since that’s her favorite color. Princess is mainly after the bomb style hold on to your butt explosions. She especially loves that starting last year she got to light some off on her own. PS there was an adult with her the entire time. Mommy’s a little paranoid just sayin
Tomorrow we will be spending the day with family for a fun day of barbeque and fireworks. Even though the whole family won’t be in attendance I know the day will go off without a hitch.
I hope you all have a happy and say 4th. May all your pyrotechnic dreams come true… lol
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Nicole's Revolution
So I’ve been seriously considering lately that I need to start a revolution. The only problem is I don’t have any ideas. I know I could totally start one, no really I could. I don’t have any super powers and I’m not as exciting as some revolution starters but I still think I got what it takes.
I was thinking the first step should be to start a petition to abolish the production and sale of Marshmallow Peeps. I know that might seem small in the big scheme of things but sometimes it takes baby steps to win the war. Those weird little things are disturbing and they have to go.
Maybe next I could politely inform stores that the woman’s department should change their sizing practices. For instance, a large could actually say small on the label. Honestly, that’s just good business sense. Ladies would much rather purchase a dress that made her feel smaller and better about herself. Plus, who wants to say they are a large when they could say they are a small. If the stores banded together and made this dream a reality then when someone said they were a small they wouldn’t get the strange looks implying they were nuts. Just sayin…
The third step should be something less obvious. Maybe it would look as though I’m doing nothing but that’s the beauty of it. In reality I would be behind the scenes making something happen. It would be glorious and wonderful you just wouldn’t know what it was.
Okay, so it looks like I have the start of a good plan. I of course would love all the support I can get. That being said… WHO’S WITH ME????
LOL: Stay tuned for the next ridiculous installment of Nicole’s Revolution.
I was thinking the first step should be to start a petition to abolish the production and sale of Marshmallow Peeps. I know that might seem small in the big scheme of things but sometimes it takes baby steps to win the war. Those weird little things are disturbing and they have to go.
Maybe next I could politely inform stores that the woman’s department should change their sizing practices. For instance, a large could actually say small on the label. Honestly, that’s just good business sense. Ladies would much rather purchase a dress that made her feel smaller and better about herself. Plus, who wants to say they are a large when they could say they are a small. If the stores banded together and made this dream a reality then when someone said they were a small they wouldn’t get the strange looks implying they were nuts. Just sayin…
The third step should be something less obvious. Maybe it would look as though I’m doing nothing but that’s the beauty of it. In reality I would be behind the scenes making something happen. It would be glorious and wonderful you just wouldn’t know what it was.
Okay, so it looks like I have the start of a good plan. I of course would love all the support I can get. That being said… WHO’S WITH ME????
LOL: Stay tuned for the next ridiculous installment of Nicole’s Revolution.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Series Name Conundrum
So I really love the title of my book. It has been Clandestine for a very long time. I am however, still kind of unsure about the whole “Slayer Saga” thing.
That being said I am looking to all of my readers for there opinion and advice. I would really appreciate it if you could leave a comment under this post letting me know your thoughts.
The book will be coming out next month but there is still time to make that last minute alteration. Keep in mind that the book is about vampires but from a slayer stand point. I am trying to think of something that will make the book stand out amongst a sea of other paranormal books on a search engine. I want it to be something catchy but not over used.
Some ideas have been thrown out there in the mix. They are:
“When Blood Calls”,
“Her Blood Calls”,
“Birth Right”,
“A Trail Of Blood”,
“Inheritance”,
“True Calling”,
“Blood Calls”,
“Blood Calling”,
“Blood Oath”,
“Bonded By Blood”
“Blood Bond”
Blood Bonded”
“Legacy Calls”
“Blood Unity”
“Blood Promise”
“Darkness Calls”
“Crimson Calling”
Another idea was to make Clandestine the series name and create a new title. Do any of you like that idea? I am torn personally. I have loved Clandestine as a title for so long it’s hard for me to think of it as anything else. But if it will work better as the series title instead, I am open to that. If so, I would kind of prefer to keep the main title as a one word thing. The reason why is because the second book in the series is called Divinity and so I kind of wanted to stay in the same one word pattern. But creativity means change and I’m open if necessary.
Do you like any of those? Whether your answer is yes or no why do you feel that way? Do any of them seem like something that you could see picking up and reading? So I guess what I’m really asking what title would have you wanting more?
As mentioned before if you have any ideas please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section of this post. If you need some inspiration you can click HERE to read a brief synopsis of what the book is about.
Thanks for your consideration and opinions. I’ll let you all know what I decide.
That being said I am looking to all of my readers for there opinion and advice. I would really appreciate it if you could leave a comment under this post letting me know your thoughts.
The book will be coming out next month but there is still time to make that last minute alteration. Keep in mind that the book is about vampires but from a slayer stand point. I am trying to think of something that will make the book stand out amongst a sea of other paranormal books on a search engine. I want it to be something catchy but not over used.
Some ideas have been thrown out there in the mix. They are:
“When Blood Calls”,
“Her Blood Calls”,
“Birth Right”,
“A Trail Of Blood”,
“Inheritance”,
“True Calling”,
“Blood Calls”,
“Blood Calling”,
“Blood Oath”,
“Bonded By Blood”
“Blood Bond”
Blood Bonded”
“Legacy Calls”
“Blood Unity”
“Blood Promise”
“Darkness Calls”
“Crimson Calling”
Another idea was to make Clandestine the series name and create a new title. Do any of you like that idea? I am torn personally. I have loved Clandestine as a title for so long it’s hard for me to think of it as anything else. But if it will work better as the series title instead, I am open to that. If so, I would kind of prefer to keep the main title as a one word thing. The reason why is because the second book in the series is called Divinity and so I kind of wanted to stay in the same one word pattern. But creativity means change and I’m open if necessary.
Do you like any of those? Whether your answer is yes or no why do you feel that way? Do any of them seem like something that you could see picking up and reading? So I guess what I’m really asking what title would have you wanting more?
As mentioned before if you have any ideas please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section of this post. If you need some inspiration you can click HERE to read a brief synopsis of what the book is about.
Thanks for your consideration and opinions. I’ll let you all know what I decide.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Hollow Land By Amanda Hocking
I recently read Hollow Land by Amanda Hocking Well, technically because of the whole blind thing I listened to it via download from Audible I think I would give this book 4 *’s. It’s a Young Adult read that even the grown ups will love.
I must admit that I don’t normally go for this type of book. I love paranormal and the supernatural but this book falls more under the Sci-Fi category. It’s a tale of the end of the world brought forth because of a virus outbreak plaguing the world and turning its citizens into zombies.
Before I get started talking about the book in more depth I have to warn that my spelling of some of the characters names might not be accurate. Thanks to having only read the audio version you are stuck with my interpretation of how their names are spelled.
The main character Remie King is a strong brave nineteen year old who is a survivor at her core. In some aspects of her life she is guarded and maybe even a little jaded but honestly who could blame her. She has spent the entire last year dodging and fighting zombies to protect herself and those she cares about.
The book starts out with her in a Government quarantine meant to be a safe haven for those citizens who have not yet been infected with the virus. When zombies overtake the high school that they call home Remy and a couple friends are forced to flee. Before she goes she discovers that the soldier who had been watching over her and her kid brother has been bitten. That means he is destined to become one of the monsters. He informs her that her brother had been the first evacuated from the quarantine when security was breeched. Max is only eight years old and the only blood family that Remie has left.
She sets off to find him. This means traveling across the country mostly on foot. The only trouble is zombies are everywhere and food and weaponry are scarce commodities.
For those reader seeking a little Romance this book has that too but in a subtle way. Remie meets a rock star named Lazlo. He clearly has a thing for her but at Remie doesn’t want anything to do with him. She things he’s an idiot who wouldn’t have made it as far as he had if it wasn’t for his companion Blue. Also, getting close would mean giving a part of herself that she has had closed off for a long time. Even when she starts to come to terms with her feelings for him she pushes them back and ignores them. No matter what she does Lazlo isn’t detoured though.
Remie refuses to give up on her quest for her brother even when the odds are stacked against her and the friends she meets along the way. It’s a race against time. The zombies want live food and Remie and her friends are the main course.
Hollow Land is the first book in The Hollows series by Hocking. It’s an action packed thrill ride that will leave you wanting more even if it’s not your typical genre choice. If you don’t mind a little gore and you love suspense this book is definitely right for you.
If you want to connect with me on Facebook you can do so HERE
I must admit that I don’t normally go for this type of book. I love paranormal and the supernatural but this book falls more under the Sci-Fi category. It’s a tale of the end of the world brought forth because of a virus outbreak plaguing the world and turning its citizens into zombies.
Before I get started talking about the book in more depth I have to warn that my spelling of some of the characters names might not be accurate. Thanks to having only read the audio version you are stuck with my interpretation of how their names are spelled.
The main character Remie King is a strong brave nineteen year old who is a survivor at her core. In some aspects of her life she is guarded and maybe even a little jaded but honestly who could blame her. She has spent the entire last year dodging and fighting zombies to protect herself and those she cares about.
The book starts out with her in a Government quarantine meant to be a safe haven for those citizens who have not yet been infected with the virus. When zombies overtake the high school that they call home Remy and a couple friends are forced to flee. Before she goes she discovers that the soldier who had been watching over her and her kid brother has been bitten. That means he is destined to become one of the monsters. He informs her that her brother had been the first evacuated from the quarantine when security was breeched. Max is only eight years old and the only blood family that Remie has left.
She sets off to find him. This means traveling across the country mostly on foot. The only trouble is zombies are everywhere and food and weaponry are scarce commodities.
For those reader seeking a little Romance this book has that too but in a subtle way. Remie meets a rock star named Lazlo. He clearly has a thing for her but at Remie doesn’t want anything to do with him. She things he’s an idiot who wouldn’t have made it as far as he had if it wasn’t for his companion Blue. Also, getting close would mean giving a part of herself that she has had closed off for a long time. Even when she starts to come to terms with her feelings for him she pushes them back and ignores them. No matter what she does Lazlo isn’t detoured though.
Remie refuses to give up on her quest for her brother even when the odds are stacked against her and the friends she meets along the way. It’s a race against time. The zombies want live food and Remie and her friends are the main course.
Hollow Land is the first book in The Hollows series by Hocking. It’s an action packed thrill ride that will leave you wanting more even if it’s not your typical genre choice. If you don’t mind a little gore and you love suspense this book is definitely right for you.
If you want to connect with me on Facebook you can do so HERE
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